Frame structure



Nov. 25, i969 F. G. BOGGI ETAL FRAME STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 19. 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORN EYS.

INVENTOR F. GEORGE BOGGlO ALEXANDER ZEITLIN Nov.. 25, i969 F. G. BoGGxo ETAL 3,479,856

FRAME STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 19. 1968 NVENTORS E BOGGlO R Z ET Li N 5. flu F ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 25, qi969 F. G. Bosc-11o ETAL FRAME STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 19. 1968 g INVENTORS ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 25, 15959 F. G. BoGGlo ETAL 3,479,856

FRAME STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 19. 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I FICH@ l [Hd'x HC' O W WV 0 l I 60g 260 62 FIG@ fil' lib F GEORGEINEQJ'S BY ALXANDER ZEITLIN Wwf/@636% ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O 3,479,856 FRAME STRUCTURE F. lGeorge Boggio, Glen Rock, NJ., and Alexander Zeitlin, White Plains, N.Y., assignors to Barogencs, Inc., Mount Vernon, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 19, 1968, Ser. No. 699,220 Int. Cl. B211' 13/04 ILS. Cl. 72--455 8 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE The present invention is directed toward the art of frame structures and, more particularly, to an improved frame of the type utilized for bearing and absorbing the reactive loads generated by forging presses and other similar means for doing work on material.

The U.S. Patent 3,346,922 to Brayman et al. and comrnonly assigned copending application, U.S. Patent 3,418,- 922 to R. Kip, Jr., both disclose frame structures which are especially suited for constructing large press frames. Both the Brayman and Kip structures utilize two independent frame subassemblies each of which include opposed crosshead forming members connected at their outer end portions by tie couplings. The two subassemblies are interrelated so that their separate crosshead forming members cooperate to form a frame having opposed compound heads. In the Brayman et al. structure the frame subassemblies are positioned so that their respective cossshead forming members are in diagonally criss-cross juxtaposed position, whereas, in the Kip structure the crosshead forming members are interleaved. One of the main features of these two frame structures is that the strength of a frame of a given size can be greatly increased as compared to that of a conventional frame. Further, the frames are easily fabricated from commercial plate or stock. Additionally, because of the construction and relationship of the frame subassemblies, the design and stress calculations are simplified and the distribution of loads within the resulting frame greatly improved.

As can be seen, the above-described frames have many desirable features, especially when constructing extremely large size presses. Their only drawback is that they do not have the rigidity required to resist reaction loads which are applied eccentrically to the heads. For example, in certain types of forging presses the outwardly directed reaction loads often do not act directly perpendicular to the heads and sometimes have relatively large components .in directions parallel to the heads. Additionally, the frames cannot easily be constructed in a box frame form, i.e. with a polygonal cross-section in planes parallel to the heads.

The present invention provides a frame construction of the general type referred to above which provides the advantages noted but, additionally, allows construction of box-type frames with rigidity in all three dimensions. Further, the frames formed in accordance with the invention utilizes a minimum number of different ICS structural elements, all of which are of simple design and conductive to elementary stress analysis.

In accordance with the invention a frame structure is provided which comprises at least three frame subassemblies each including spaced crossheads connected at their outer end portions by tie couplings to define a closed ring. The subassemblies are positioned with their crossheads lying in generally parallel planes and the end portions of each respective crosshead in overlapping juxtaposed position with the end portions of crossheads of two other subassemblies to define, in planes generally perpendicular to said tie couplings, opposed compound heads having a polygonal ring configuration.

Because the frame has a polygonal ring configuration in planes perpendicular to the tie couplings, the frame is of increased rigidity in these planes, in addition to planes perpendicular to the heads. Consequently, the frame can resist reaction loads applied eccentrically to the heads without shifting.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is the provision of a frame of the general type described which is extremely rigid in all three dimensions.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a frame of the type described which can be constructed from simple plate and pin type structural elements.

A still further object is the provision of a frame structure which is especially suited for use in extremely large size presses subject to eccentric loading.

Yet another object is the provision of a frame which is easily manufactured and shipped, as well as, easily constructed on site.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a top plan view of a press frame constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURES 2 and 3 are side elevations taken on lines 2 2 and 3-3 respectively, of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a partial exploded view of one head end of the frame of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a pictorial View of one head end of the frame of FIGURE l;

FIGURES 6 and 7 are pictorial views of head ends of frames formed in accordance with additional embodiments of the invention and provided with means to increase the frames rigidity;

FIGURES 8 and 9 are detail views showing the crosshead forming members for the frame of FIGURE 7; and,

FIGURE l0 is a partial pictorial View of a frame formed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention and provided with means to increase the frames rigidity.

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting same, FIGURES l through 5 show the preferred embodiment of the frame A comprised of a plurality of subframe assemblies 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d. Preferably, the subframe assemblies are each of substantially identical construction and, accordingly, the same reference numerals differentiated by the addition of a letter corresponding to the letter of the assembly to which the element belongs will be utilized to identify the same elements and, a description of one such element is to be equally applicable to'the others unless otherwise noted.

As shown, each of the subframe assemblies includes spaced, parallel upper and lower crosshead forming members 11 and 12, respectively. In the embodiment under consideration, each subframe assembly includes a plurality of upper crosshead forming members 11 which are formed, for example, from steel plates. The members 11 are positioned in spaced, side-by-side parallel relationship. Preferably, plates 11 are spaced a distance equal to their thickness for reasons which will hereafter become apparent. A corresponding number of similarly constructed lower crosshead forming members 12 are provided and spaced in the same arrangement as members 11.

Extending between the respective outer end portions of the crosshead forming members 11 and 12 are a plurality of tie coupling members 13. As shown, the tie couplings 13 are formed from plate steel and, preferably, are of the same thickness as the crosshead forming members 11 and 12. The tie coupling members 13 are positioned with their end portions in interleaving and overlapping relationship with the outer end portions of the respective upper and lower crosshead forming members 11 and 12. Connecting means, shown in the form of shear pins 14 and 16, interconnect the respective upper and lower ends of the tie couplings and the outer end portions of the upper and lower crosshead forming members. Although other types of connecting means could be utilized, shear pins passing through the overlapped joints in the manner shown are most desirable because of their simplicity and because they form a connecting joint which is nontransmissive of bending moments in planes parallel to the subframe assembly.

As best shown in FIGURE 5, each of the subframe assemblies a-d are positioned with their tie couplings extending parallel and the outer end portions of the crosshead forming members of each positioned in overlapping juxtaposed position with the end portions of two other assemblies to deline, in planes generally perpendicular to the tie couplings, opposed compound heads and 22 having a polygonal ring configuration.

In the preferred embodiment, the end portions of each of the upper and lower crosshead forming members 11 and 12, respectively, are of reduced width as best shown in FIGURE 4. This provides a recess 24 at each opposite ends of the upper crosshead forming members 11. 1n the preferred embodiment the upper crosshead forming members in subframe assemblies 10d and 10c are positioned with their respective recesses 24 facing downwardly whereas, the crosshead forming members 11 of subframe assemblies 10a and 10b are positioned with their respective recess 24 facing upwardly. Accordingly, when the subframe assemblies are assembled in the manner shown, the respective recesses of the crosshead forming members 11 are interiitted so as to provide an interlocking effect between the separate frame subassemblies. This acts to increase the rigidity of the resultant frame A, as well as, to provide a planar lower suface 30 for the compound head 20.

The outer end portions of the lower crosshead forming members 12a are provided with recesses 26 arranged similarly to recesses 24. Preferably, the lower crosshead forming members are positioned so that their respective recesses 26 are facing in the same direction as the corresponding recesses 24 of their respective upper crosshead forming members 11. This arrangement provides a planar upwardly facing surface for the lower compound head 22. An additional feature of the notches is that the length of all of the tie couplings 13 can readily be made equal so that during normal loading of the press frame (i.e. outwardly directed reaction loads acting perpendicular to compound heads 20 and 22) all of the tie bars will undergo similar elongation. This results in a design wherein the loads are relatively equally distributed between each of the subframe assemblies. Further, this relationship greatly simplifies manufacture since all of the tie couplings can be of identical size and configuration.

In order to maintain the frame subassemblies properly positioned relative one another, spacer members are connected between the opposed frame subassemblies, As

shown in FIGURE 1, a first pair of spacers 32 and 34 extend between the upper ends of subassemblies 10c and 10d and a second set of spacers 36 and 38 extend between the upper ends of subassemblies 10a and 10b. Similar spacers are positioned at the lower end of the frame and, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, a spacer 40 extends between frame subassemblies 10c and 10d and a spacer 42 extends between frame subassemblies 10a and 10b. Although not shown, spacers likewise extend between frames 10c` and 10d, as well as, frames 10a and 10b on the sides thereof opposite from spacers 40 and 42. In most installations, spacers are not expected to carry any substantial loads, except those generated by eccentric loading, and are simply welded to the subframe assemblies at their juncture therewith.

In addition to its rigidity and improved load carrying characteristics the subject frame is, as can be appreciated, extremely simple to construct. For example, when built in a fully rectangular shape with a square crosssection in planes perpendicular to the tie couplings, only three different elements must be provided. Note that all of the upper and lower crosshead forming members can be made of identical size and shape and, additionally, that all of the tie couplings can likewise be of identical size and shape. The only other structural elements needed for the frame are the shear pins 14 and the spacers. Since all of these elements can be standard structural plates and rods the actual machining and/or forming which must be accomplished is kept to a minimum. Further, since all of the subframe assemblies and the resultant frame are of simple shape the stress calculations are greatly simplified and the engineering design and calculations which must be preformed to design a frame of substantially any size are relatively negligible.

Although each of the subframe assemblies 10 have been shown and described as what is termed a 50% ll factor frame in the aforementioned Kip application, it should be understood that these subframe assemblies could be constructed in the manner taught in the commonly assigned copending application to Boggio et al., U.S. Patent 3,418,923, i.e. they could be of greater ll factor. Additionally, although each of the subframe assemblies are shown as having three upper and lower crosshead forming members interconnected by four tie couplings, it is obvious that a fewer or greater number of crosshead forming members and tie couplings could be utilized. This feature in itself permits great changes in the load carrying capacity of the frame to be effected without any material redesign or change in the size of the parts. That is, simply by adding or subtracting crosshead forming members and tie couplings the ultimate load carrying capacity can be proportionately changed.

FIGURE 6 shows how the basic frame structure can be modified to further increase its rigidity. As shown, positioned between the spacer members 34 and 32 and their respective adjacent crosshead forming members 11a and 11b are angle plates 46 and 48, respectively. Shear pins 50 through 52 connect the angle plate 46 to spacer 34. Additionally, the upwardly extending leg of angle plate 46 is similarly connected to the crosshead forming members 11a by pins 53 through S5. Preferably, short spacer plates `56 are positioned between the crosshead forming members 11a and the pins 53, 54 and 55 pass completely therethrough. Spacer member 48 is similarly connected to spacer member 32 by pins S7 through 59 and to crosshead forming members 11b by pins 60 through 62. Spacer plates 63 are also positioned between crosshead forming members 11b for receiving pins 60 through 62.

The spacer members between frame subassemblies 10:1 and 10b are provided with angle plates -64 and 66, respectively. Angle plates 64 and 66 are connected to the spacers and their adjacent crosshead forming members in the identical manner described with reference to angle plates 46 and 48. Although not shown, the lower end of the frame can be provided with the same angle plate space arrangement. In this manner the frame is given greater rigidity without materially increasing its complexity.

FIGURE 7 showns the preferred manner of constructing the crosshead forming members so as to achieve the maximum rigidity without the addition of spacer or bracket plates. As shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, the crosshead forming members 11C' and 11d are provided with inwardly extending notches 60 in their outer end portions. The crosshead forming members 11a and 11b are provided with similar cooperating notches 62 in the outer end portions. Further, although not shown, the lower crosshead forming members are also provided with similar notches. Consequently, when the subframe assemblies are positioned in the manner shown in FIGURE 7, the notches cooperate to interlock crosshead forming members and function to resist eccentric loading and prevent any shifting of the frame subassemblies in any direction perpendicular to the tie couplings.

FIGURE shows how the frame of FIGURE 7 can be given additional rigidity, As shown, angle bracket 64 extends vertically adjacent the tie couplings 13a' and is connected thereto by horizontally extending shear pins 66 which are preferably passed entirely through each group of tie couplings. Additionally, at the locations where the pins pass through the tie couplings spacer members 68 are positioned between the respective couplings. It is to be understood that although not shown in FIG- URE 10, additional angle plates would be positioned at each of the other three corners of the frame. In this manner, the entire frame is given further rigidity in directions perpendicular to the tie couplings. This assists the frame in resisting relatively great eccentric loads acting against the compound heads.

The invention has been described in great detail suicient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the same. Obviously, modifications and alterations of the preferred embodiment of the invention will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the specification and it is our intention to include all such modifications and alterations as part of our invention insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A frame structure comprising: at least three frame subassemblies; each frame subassembly including spaced crossheads connected at their outer ends portions by tie couplings to form a closed ring; said subassemblies being positioned with their crossheads lying in generally parallel planes and the end portions of each respective crosshead in overlapping juxtaposed position with the end portions of crossheads of two other subassemblies to define, in planes generally perpendicular to said tie couplings, opposed compound heads having a polygonal ring configuration.

2. A frame as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said crossheads is formed by a plurality of plate members positioned in spaced, side-by-side relationship.

3. A frame as defined in claim 1 wherein the overlapping outer end portions of each of said crossheads are provided with interlocking recesses.

4. A frame as dened in claim 1 wherein said tie couplings comprise plate members connected to said crossheads by shear pins.

5. A frame as defined in claim 1 wherein four of said subassemblies are provided.

6. A frame as defined in claim 5 wherein said four subassemblies are positioned to define, in planes generally perpendicular to said tie couplings, compound heads of rectangular conguration.

7. A frame as defined in claim 6 including angle plates connected between the tie couplings at each corner of said compound heads.

8. A frame as defined in claim 3 wherein said recesses in each respective crosshead are spaced inwardly of the tie couplings connected to the respective crosshead.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,416,058 2/1947 Mangnall 10U-214 2,627,290 2/1953 Berthelsen 100-214 3,307,830 3/1967 Van Allen 100-214 3,346,922 10/1967 Brayman 18-16 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,401,193 4/1965 France.

CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner GENE P. CROSBY, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. -214 

